Budweiser Clydesdales part of state fair lineup

SPRINGFIELD — The Budweiser Clydesdales will be at the Illinois State Fair for its entire 10-day duration.

Fair organizers say as part of the 160th celebration of Illinois agriculture, the famous horses will march in the fair's opening night parade on Aug. 8. They will also have a daily parade through the fairgrounds at 4 p.m. Aug. 9-18.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Clydesdales as a symbol of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. The horses were first introduced by the company in April 1933 to celebrate the repeal of prohibition, after August Anheuser Busch Jr. presented them to his father.

The draft horses make hundreds of appearances each year throughout the country. Fair officials say the Clydesdales will be residing in the Heartland area of the state fairgrounds.